Women's Outdoor Track & Field

New Mexico adds DI outdoor title to resume

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The New Mexico Junior College women's track and field program clinched its second NJCAA Championship of 2017 Saturday, winning the Division I Outdoor Track & Field national title. The Thunderbirds also captured the 2017 indoor national title this past March.

New Mexico's run to its first outdoor national championship was due to 24 top 10 performances by Thunderbird athletes, which yeilded 97 team points. Barton (KS) finished as the national runner-up with 83.5 followed by Iowa Central with 71.

Esther Gitahi(#576 above) took home the most hardware for New Mexico, winning individual national titles in the 5,000 meters with a time of 17:28.44 and seting a new championship meet record in the 3,000 steeplechase - clocking in at 10:35.17. Gitahi also placed second in the 1,500 (4:43.85).

Latavia Coombs also took home an individual title for the Thunderbirds. She posted the best mark in the triple jump with her leap of 13.03 meters. Coombs also finished second in the heptathlon with 4,778 points.